Seventh-seeded Hanover defeated No. 10 Coe-Brown 70-42 in first round action of the NHIAA Division II Girls Basketball State Tournament on Wednesday night.
Hanover advances to the semifinals where they will take on No. 2 Laconia on Saturday at 5:00 pm.
Check out the full photo gallery by John Scott Sherburne…
#4 Coe-Brown narrowly escaped first round play of the D-II state tourney with a 58-55 victory over visiting #13 Kingswood on Tuesday night in Northwood. With the win, head Coach Dave Smith recorded the 650th victory of his career.
The Bears advance to the quarterfinals where they will take on #12 Kennett on Friday at 7:00 pm.
Check out highlights of the action by our Tim Lee…
Coe-Brown went on the road and earned a 56-51 come-from-behind victory at Milford on Wednesday night. The Bears trailed nearly the entire game before taking the lead for good with about 3 minutes left to play and held on for the win.
With the win, CBNA ends the regular season with a 10-8 mark, good for 10th in the Division II standings. Milford falls to 8-10 and three-way tie for 12th.
The Bears were led by 20 points for Meehan, while Kasprzak and Lapierre added 15 and 13, respectively. The Spartans boasted four players in double digits: Claire Cote (12), Ellianna Nassy (11), Avery Fuller (10) and Shea Hansen (10).
Check out the full photo gallery of the action by Betsy Hansen…
Coe-Brown poured in 40 first-half points and cruised to a 70-28 victory over visiting Kingswood on Friday night.
The Bears were paced by 16 points from Kalina Kasprzak and 14 from Emma Lapierre. The Knights were led by a game-high 17 points from Caelynn Blattenberger.
With the win, CBNA improves to 6-6 on the season, while Kingswood falls to 0-12.
Check out photos of the action by John Scott Sherburne…
By Nathaniel Ford
On January 3, 2020, Manchester West was facing Souhegan in Division II play. West led 26-23 going into the second half, and Souhegan came out in a zone defense. What happened next put on full display why a shot clock is necessary in the state.
West held the ball at half court, and Souhegan did not pressure them. In the entire third quarter, one shot was taken. For eight full minutes of play, only a single field goal was attempted.
This is not the first time this has happened, and if no shot clock is added, it probably will not be the last. This strategy really takes away from the essence of high school basketball. Holding the ball is not fun for the players or fans, and it diminishes the competition that every game provides.
This is far from the only reason a shot clock could be beneficial for the sport. In total, 27 states have approved a 30 or 35 second shot clock, including our neighbor Massachusetts. Multiple NHIAA athletes have voiced that the lack of a shot clock can be detrimental in their recruitment from collegiate programs.
The NCAA has a 30 second shot clock across the country. Transitioning from the high school game to college is a big jump already. The speed, physicality, and competition is all increased even more at the college level. Needing to adjust to a shot clock as well can just add to that tough transition.
Across the state, there is a lot of support from many people involved in the basketball community. Players, coaches, officials, and fans are all in support of a shot clock, and this is definitely the majority.
“I was hoping I would see it before I retired. I think it would add to the game,” said Coe-Brown head coach David Smith. He is a legend and very respected in the NH basketball scene.
“I think it would be a lot of fun to coach with a shot clock, and it would increase the importance of having quick hitters to get looks late in possessions,” said Profile coach Mitchell Roy. He had experience working with the Endicott College basketball team, so he’s worked with a shot clock.
One reason some have against the implementation of the clock is that it would require coaches to adjust their strategies and would be a very difficult change. However, it is evident that many coaches would love to see it added in the state, as it can provide some creativity with strategy.
“At the end of the game, it would make a difference if you have a slight lead and still need to get a shot up,” said Smith.
This clock would force teams to continue running an offense and attacking the hoop, which would lead to more exciting finishes to games.
Another benefit of a shot clock is that it could increase defensive intensity across the board. “It gives teams a better opportunity to play defense, whether it is for 30 or 35 seconds,” said Smith.
Overall, there are a ton of positives for a shot clock, which is why there are calls for its addition. However, the voices on the other side of the argument have some valid points as well.
The most obvious concern is the price and the installation of the clocks. Every school would need to buy two, one for each basket, and then wire them to the scorer’s table. While this would be a large upfront payment, there is possibly a larger concern.
“The biggest thing would be finding someone to operate the shot clock. You’d have to find another person willing to do the clock, and they would be paid the same as the game clock operator,” said Coe-Brown athletic director Samuel Struthers.
Operating a shot clock takes training and full attention into the game. The operator must understand all of the instances where it needs to be reset, which can be pretty fast-paced at times in a game.
“We have a hard time finding someone to operate the clock at a smaller school. Now to make sure everyone gets training on the shot clock rules? It’s easier said than done,” said Roy.
Schools across the state already struggle to get an operator for the main scoreboard, and this person would not be able to do the shot clock as well. Finding a second person could prove to be a near impossible task.
Regardless, the nationwide trend is towards a shot clock, and at some point, New Hampshire will have to get on board. The benefits to adding a shot clock definitely outweigh the concerns.
It seems inevitable that New Hampshire will bring it to the state. It could be within a couple of years, or it could be far down the line, but if a shot clock is on the horizon, the earlier it is implemented, the better.
Visiting Coe-Brown held Plymouth to just 30 points en route to a 53-30 victory on Friday night.
The Bears have now won three-straight and improve to 6-2 on the season. After their thrilling buzzer-beater victory over Laconia last week, the Bobcats have dropped back-to-back games and fall to 5-3.
Check out the full photo gallery by John Scott Sherburne…
By Nathaniel Ford
NORTHWOOD – Coe-Brown fought hard for a 56-43 victory over the visiting Kennett Eagles on Wednesday night.
The Bears led by as many as 14 points in the contest and were able to fend off a second half comeback from their opponents.
“Overall, we really needed this win to fully swing momentum back to our side. We had a good win over a really tough Kennett team,” said junior Jack Matson.
Kennett was 4-1 coming into tonight, and these two teams always seem to play in close games. Both teams play physically and focus on strong defense, which usually results in a tough matchup.
Coe-Brown came out strong with an early 10-2 lead in the first quarter, forcing a Kennett timeout. All five starters were contributing early, and it looked like the Bears could run away with it.
The Eagles managed to keep the game within reach due to strong play to close the quarter by sophomore Allen Noung. He came in off the bench and scored 7 points, which was a big reason the score was only 22-11 entering the second.
For the rest of the game, Kennett was able to play strong defense and really limit Coe-Brown’s offensive output after this first quarter explosion.
“We got a lot of shots off, and we didn’t finish some that we should have,” said Coe-Brown coach David Smith.
The second quarter was extremely even, with both teams going on small runs of their own. Junior Daven Bailey led the way for Kennett, knocking down two three-pointers and scoring 8 points in the quarter.
Coe-Brown had many contributors offensively, and they were led by Quinn Salter, who had 6 points at timely moments in the quarter. Neither team could get an edge, and Coe-Brown led 34-25 entering halftime.
The Eagles, who started the game in a 2-3 zone defense, played man-to-man the entire second half. This helped them immensely in the third quarter, where they started to spark a big comeback.
They knocked down four shots from beyond the arc and clawed their way back into the game. Behind their shooting, they ended up evening the score at 39-39 in the quarter. Regardless of the game all square for the first time since 2-2, the Bears did not panic.
“We executed some of our offense well at critical times tonight,” said Smith.
This was one of those times, as Matson got a quick bucket to take the lead back, and after a defensive stop, Ryan Kouchoukos attacked the rim and extended the lead even more. Following a late Kennett basket, the Bears led by just two points entering the final quarter.
Winning close games is something that separates great teams from good teams, and Coe-Brown proved tonight they can stay composed in these situations.
“Fourth quarter defensive effort was big. We were able to hold them to two points in the final quarter,” said Smith.
The Bears stepped up in a massive way as a unit on the defensive end, which is what secured their victory. Their offense was led by a spectacular stretch of three baskets from Matson, including an and-one to cap it off.
Coe-Brown rallied together in the fourth and capped off a hard-fought victory 56-43. A 13-point game does not show how tight this matchup was. Going into the final frame, it was a one possession game, and either team could have come out on top.
“Our team is special because every player on our team is capable of having a great game on any given night,” said Matson.
This was on display tonight in a game where Connor Bagnell, an All-State selection last season, was held to 10 points, and his unselfish play helped his teammates step up in big ways.
Ryan Kouchoukos came up massive in every way tonight. The junior point guard finished with 9 points, 10 assists, and 8 steals, showing he can contribute at a high level in every aspect a point guard needs to.
Quinn Salter has been consistent all season for the Bears, and he put in another strong performance tonight with 14 points and 6 rebounds. James McKane does lots of dirty work for the team, and the guard brought energy tonight with 5 rebounds and 3 steals of his own.
The star of the game for Coe-Brown was Jack Matson. The forward played all 32 minutes and recorded a double-double. He finished with a game-high 19 points and 10 rebounds.
Kennett was led by 16 points from Daven Bailey and 12 points from Allen Noung. The Eagles fall to 4-2 and look to bounce back in a matchup this Friday against Division III Berlin.
Coe-Brown improves to 5-2 on the season and are now on a two-game winning streak. They look to stay hot in a big matchup this Friday on the road against 5-2 Plymouth.
By Nathaniel Ford
NORTHWOOD – The Bears defended their home court and improved to 3-1 with their 17-point victory, 56-39, over the visiting Knights.
Coe-Brown was powered by their defense, holding the Knights to a season-low 39 points.
“Ryan [Kouchoukos] had a phenomenal night defensively, and so did James [McKane],” said head coach David Smith.
Both were tasked with a tough matchup guarding Brady Moulton, Kingwood’s top scorer averaging 15 points per game. While he finished the game with 16 points, he was contained throughout the night at big moments, which allowed the Bears to go on some crucial runs.
Coe-Brown came out scoring early, recording 20 points in the first quarter. This offensive attack was led by senior Quinn Salter, who found success attacking the Kingswood zone.
“I had 10 quick points, and it got the team going pretty well,” said Salter. He had half of their points through the first, while Kouchoukos added 6 as well. The Bears closed the quarter on a 6-0 run led by 4 points from Salter, and their lead was extended to 20-13 entering the second.
In the second, Moulton got going, scoring all 7 Kingswood points. This was not enough to cut down the lead at all, and a big reason for that was Coe-Brown’s Mikey Flanagan.
“Mikey came off the bench and gave us a big lift,” said Smith. He recorded 10 points in the quarter and outdueled Moulton to help extend the Bears’ lead to 33-20 entering the break.
The Knights showed some life coming out in the third quarter. They went on a quick 5-0 run in the first 1:30, which forced a Coe-Brown timeout and cut the lead to eight points.
Whatever Smith said in that timeout worked perfectly, and the team bounced right back. They went on an 8-0 run of their own, highlighted by 6 points from Jack Matson. This brought their lead right back up, and they entered the final quarter ahead 41-30.
The Bears defense proved itself once again in the fourth quarter, holding the Knights to just 9 points. Their lead was already far too great, and it was only extended by two three-pointers from All-State guard Connor Bagnell.
When all was said and done, Coe-Brown took care of business in the fourth and came away with a 56-39 victory, giving them their third win of the season.
“We needed this coming off Christmas break. Now we’re just in it full-time ready to go,” said Salter.
Over break, Coe-Brown attended the Mike Lee Holiday Basketball Bash at Farmington High School. They were eliminated by Profile, the eventual champions, in the quarterfinals, and this game was a much-needed win.
The Bears were led by a very balanced scoring output, with Salter leading the way with 14 points. Matson (12) and Flanagan (10) each added double figures of their own.
Kingswood was paced by a game-high 16 points from Moulton. Sophomore Thomas Benker chipped in with 10 points as well.
Coe-Brown improves to 3-1, and they look to come away with a victory on the road against Hanover this Friday.
“We’ve got a tough venture as we go to Hanover. They’ve been playing really well,” said Smith.
They are 5-1 on the season, with their one loss coming to a tough Merrimack Valley team on the road.
Kingswood looks to stop a two-game skid as they host the Bow Falcons this Friday. Bow is a tough 2-2 team led by standout sophomore Jake Reardon.
What a day of basketball. From an improbable finish in a consolation game to hotly contested semifinals and a Division IV upset of the only D-I team in the tourney, day four of the 44th Annual Mike Lee Holiday Basketball Bash did NOT disappoint. Photo galleries from all games can be seen right here. You can also download high resolution images for free here.
Below is final scores from all seven games along with the high scorers in each…
GAME 35
BOYS: Belmont 55, Franklin 28
Belmont: Brady Thurber 16, Keegan Martinez 13
Franklin: Zeke McCoy 12
GAME 36: FULL STORY & VIDEO
GIRLS: Portsmouth Christian 51, Belmont 50
PCA: Jaela Stockbower 20, Ava Buchanan 17
Belmont: Darci Stone 16, Madison Carrier 15
GAME 37
BOYS: Coe-Brown 63, Raymond 55
CBNA: Jack Matson, Connor Bagnell 17, Quinn Salter 13
Raymond: Dre Duffaut 19, Logan Brien 15, Aiden York 13
GAME 38: FULL STORY
GIRLS SEMIFINAL #1: Kennett 51, Franklin 24
Kennett: Sam Sidoti 22, Kaley Goodhart 20
Franklin: Kourtney Kaplan 12
GAME 39: FULL STORY
BOYS SEMIFINAL #1: Profile 59, Windham 51
Windham: Jack Murphy 15, Jack Koutrobis 14, Jack Begley 10, Caden Bouchard 10
Profile: Josh Robie 21, Alex Leslie 16, Karsen Robie 11
GAME 40
GIRLS SEMIFINAL #2: Farmington 47, Profile 40
FHS: Zoey Johnson 14, Madi Ricker 9, Ryleigh Hogan 8
Profile: Morgan Presby 16, Mya Brown 11k
GAME 41
BOYS SEMIFINAL #2: Sanborn 66, Derryfield 58
Sanborn: Brandon Sarette 21, Chase Frizzell 16, Dylan Rego 12, Jake Pitre 11
Derryfield: Jack Krasnof 32, Alex Comire 11
That’s a wrap on day two of the 44th Annual Mike Lee Holiday Basketball Bash. Photo galleries from all games played at Farmington High School can be seen right here. You can also download high resolution images for free here.
Below is final scores from all 10 games along with the high scorers in each…
GAME 13
GIRLS: Sanborn 56, Portsmouth Christian 48
Sanborn: Emma Gillis 23
PCA: Ava Buchanan 24, Jaela Stockbower 11
GAME 14: FULL STORY
BOYS: Sanborn 76, Nute 30
Sanborn: Chase Frizzell 14, Brandon Sarette 11
Nute: Collin Hathorn 12, Picard 10
GAME 15
BOYS: Derryfield 43, Kennett 33
Derryfield: Jack Krasnof 14, Alex Comire 11, Alex Drake 10
Kennett: Tavon Porter 11, Daven Bailey 14
GAME 16: FULL STORY
BOYS: Windham 68, Noble 54
Windham: Caden Bouchard 16, Jack Begley 10,
Noble: Jamier Rose 21, Bryce Guitard 18
GAME 17
GIRLS: Franklin 60, Noble 40
Franklin: Lily Cornell 21, Kourtney Kaplan 18
Noble: Aubrey Brennan 20, Taylor Gnirk 16
GAME 18: FULL STORY
BOYS: Portsmouth Christian 61, Franklin 38
PCA: Cai Summers 20, Connor Hickey 18
Franklin: Zeke McCoy 28
GAME 19
GIRLS: Profile 56, Coe-Brown 50
Profile: Morgan Presby 13, Mya Brown 22
CBNA: Emma Lapierre 15, Hannah Meehan 14
GAME 20: FULL STORY
BOYS: Profile 71, Raymond 42
Profile: Josh Robie 35, Alex Leslie 15
Raymond: Dre Duffaut 10
GAME 21
GIRLS: Farmington 57, Raymond 35
FHS: Zoey Johnson 15, Shaylee DiPrizio 13, Jaelyn Prosper 10
Raymond: Sophie Huynh 15
GAME 22
BOYS: Farmington 78, Concord Christian 56
FHS: Demery Hadges 27, Shawn Murphy 16, Dylan Zappala 11, Aiden Place 10
CCA: Jaden Young 20
